Does Hardware Need to Match?

I've gotten all of my formal decision papers from the Zoning Board of Appeals and I'm about two weeks into the 20-day waiting period during which someone can appeal the ZBA's decision in land court if they object. Since it would cost someone money at this point to fight the ZBA's decision, I think I'm in the clear.

In the meantime, plans move forward. I originally thought I wanted to have a mahogany front door but every wood door I've seen installed in the neighborhood looks faded and weathered after just a few years, even when under the cover of a porch. That would drive me crazy.

I think I've decided on a gray color scheme similar to this...medium gray body, light gray trim with black window sashes, doors and shutters. It's a classic and handsome color combination, appropriate for a Greek-Revival and a black front door could be easily be freshened with a new coat of paint.

I'll be using a Simpson six-panel door and I thought it would look nice to have...

...bull's eye glass in the top two panes but it doesn't seem to be an available option. It's not a typical detail on a Greek Revival--perhaps a little more colonial--so I'll might just go with the...

...typical six-panel door since I'll have...

...the sidelights flanking each side of the door.

I'm also using Marvin Ultimate double-hung windows, six over six panels, aluminum clad in black on the outside, primed wood on the inside. And then came an unexpected question:

What color hardware do I want on the windows?

Uh...

I don't know. I thought I had put off having to make any decisions about the inside so I was a little unprepared to answer that question. I decided I try to find some information or advice on the internet and found an article on Addicted 2 Decorating that addresses this subject.

"The short answer to your question is...YES. You do want to keep the hardware consistent throughout.

It's been my experience that people generally fall into one of two categories--(1) people that give absolutely no thought to hardware/metal finishes, and combine anything and everything, and (2) people who live by hard-and-fast rules, and keep all of their hardware/metals EXACTLY the same finish. The first one is a decorating no-no, but the second one is very extreme. There is a happy medium.

When it comes to your hardware and metal finishes, you do want consistency, but you don't necessarily have to have the exact same finish throughout the house. The main thing is just to ask yourself, "Does this finish blend with and enhance the style of my home?"

I do recall going to an open house in the neighborhood where they had used oil-rubbed bronze doorknobs on the white doors but when I went into the bathroom I immediately noticed that they had chosen chrome fixtures. The chrome towel rack on the back of the door next to the bronze door knob stuck out like a sore thumb.

I think I've always considered myself a brushed nickel kind of person but remember...

I already bought these antiques hinges. Once they're all stripped, I thought I would take them somewhere and have them professionally finished. I can see these painted in black but I think they would look terrible sprayed in some fake metallic finish. I'll have to do some research but maybe there's some kind of oil finish or lacquer, that would make them work well with oil-rubbed bronze hardware.

So I thought I'd look at the Cottage Living website just to see what dark hardware would look like in different rooms throughout the house.

I do like the dark hardware on the white kitchen cabinets although this woman has chosen a chrome or nickel faucet. What do you think of that?

Here's a bathroom with dark hardware and fixtures on white. I really like it.

And here's a bedroom with a dark doorknob and hinges. I think it looks great.

This is a photo of a kitchen I recently found on Junk Garden Girl (a great blog for inspiration photos if you like vintage style) that perfectly meets my mind's image of what my kitchen should/can be. Even though the hardware looks like brass or copper, I think a dark bronze would be equally as nice.

So I think I'm pretty comfortable moving forward with oil-rubbed bronze for the window hardware.

What do you think? Should hardware match throughout the house? Have you ever thought about it?